Meteorologist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), Weather Forecast Office (WFO), with one vacancy in Bismarck, ND.

WFOs issue watches, warnings and advisories as well as forecasts for their local area, keeping the public informed of weather hazards and interacting with emergency management partners to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of weather and water hazards.

They monitor multiple sources of observations, disseminate weather, water and climate-related information. Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.

This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience in order to be found minimally qualified.

Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements: To qualify for the 1340 series: EDUCATION: A.

Degree: Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, or other natural science major that included: 1.

At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of credit in meteorology/atmospheric science including a minimum of: Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;* Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale); Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation.

2. Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.* 3. Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.* 4.

At least nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography, physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and computer science.

* There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations.

Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major. OR B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

This experience need not have been in the federal government.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify at the GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assessing severe weather warning, forecast, and service products to improve their adequacy and usefulness; Assisting with meteorological or hydrologic public awareness preparedness programs; and Communicating technical meteorological and hydrologic information to partners or customers.

Major Duties:

As a Meteorologist, you will perform the following duties: The working title of this position is Warning Coordination Meteorologist.

As Warning Coordination Meteorologist, serve as principal interface between the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) and the users of the its products and services, and lead the office Impact-Based Decision Support Services program.

Conduct a WFO area-wide preparedness program. Serve as office supervisor when designated. Perform the function of Senior Forecaster on shift duty no more than 25% of the time.

Work closely with local and state emergency management agencies and other related agencies concerned with disasters, to ensure a planned, coordinated, and effective preparedness effort in the WFO area of responsibility.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: The work is generally sedentary, although carrying of bulky projectors and other informational materials is occasionally required, along with some light travel.

Routine duties require meeting tight deadlines.

During periods of threatening weather or rapidly changing weather conditions, the increase in workload and the necessity for rapid dissemination of weather warnings and updates requires periods of acute mental alertness and produces considerable mental stress.

Adverse weather conditions often require the incumbent to work hours longer than the usual shift, adding to mental and physical stress.